News for New Kent County and Charles City County, Virginia | January 23, 2026
Local News
Ten-percent staff raise part of Charles City’s Superintendent of Schools $8.9 million budget proposal
Citing nearby county salaries and Charles City’s proximity squeezed between them, Charles City Superintendent of Schools Katina Otey sent a strong message with her first budget presentation to school board members. Otey proposed a 10-percent staff salary increase as part of an $8,923,281 budget presentation for FY2026-27 during Tuesday night’s Charles City School Board meeting. By comparison, county schools are operating on a budget of $7,201,636 for the current year. “Teachers come to Charles City, and we are thankful for them,” Otey said. “They choose to be here when they can go elsewhere.” The superintendent referenced how nearby counties offer…
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New Kent Board of Supervisors deny transfer request to initiate construction of new elementary school
A request for additional supplemental funding to launch the process of building a new elementary school in New Kent has been denied by county leaders. New Kent supervisors denied a proposal for supplemental funding in the amount of $130,732.99 by a 2-3 vote in front of a packed boardroom during Tuesday night’s regular meeting. Over the past few months, discussions between New Kent’s School Board and New Kent County’s Board of Supervisors circled around the construction of a “new” New Kent Elementary School building. The proposed building would be located behind the current elementary school, with a proposal of three…
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North Carolina man handed three months for assault in New Kent County
A North Carolina man will spend the next three months in jail for assaulting a family member in New Kent. Jeremy William Roscoe, 41, of the 500 block of Old Hertford Highway, Elizabeth City, entered a guilty plea to a single count of assault and battery of a family member (third or subsequent offense) as part of a plea agreement reached during Monday proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Thomas Cleator, on Apr. 28, 2025, a New Kent deputy responded to a call for service to a residence…
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Virginia Beach duo indicted for allegedly possessing methamphetamine in New Kent
A pair of Virginia Beach residents who allegedly possessed an illegal substance in New Kent County have been indicted by a grand jury. Donna Dale Bishop, 51, and Charles Frederick Kirby, 44, both of the 900 block of Argona Boulevard, were each indicted on count of possession of a Schedule I/II substance during Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. The duo allegedly possessed methamphetamine on Sept. 9, 2025. Other indictments certified by the grand jury include: –Anna Catherine Baggett, 31, of the 5400 block of Haupts Lane, Charles City, on two counts of possession of a Schedule I/II…
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Charles City man indicted on attempted second degree murder charge
A Charles City man has been indicted on a pair of felony charges including attempted murder. Ernest Lamont Jones, 43, of the 6200 block of Sign Post Lane, was indicted on one charge each of attempted second degree murder, strangulation, and misdemeanor assault and battery on a family member during Tuesday morning proceedings in Charles City Circuit Court. The allegations stem from a Sept. 30, 2025, incident where Jones was identified as a suspect when he was involved in a domestic incident with a female companion. In one other indictment, Adkins Store, located at 9900 S. Lott Cary Road, Charles…
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Richmond woman to serve two years for illegally possessing firearm in New Kent
A Richmond woman will spend the next two years in jail for illegally possessing a gun in New Kent County. Donesha Shante Bland, 35, of the 3400 block of Walmsley Boulevard, entered a guilty plea to one count of possession of a gun by a nonviolent felon as part of an agreement reached Monday morning in New Kent Circuit Court. One charge of felony failure to appear was dropped as part of the agreement. In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick, on Feb. 28, 2025, a high-speed chase initiated in New Kent and eventually…
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Teenager dies in New Kent vehicle accident
Virginia State Police are investigating a single-vehicle crash in a Dec. 21 single-vehicle crash that resulted in a fatality. According to a press release and preliminary investigation, around 2 p.m., a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 was traveling westbound on Route 60 (Pocahontas Trail) when it ran off the left side of the roadway, struck a tree, overturned, and came to rest on its driver’s side. The vehicle subsequently caught fire. New Kent’s Fire Department responded to the scene and extinguished the flame. The driver and sole occupant, identified as 18-year-old Gavin Awessew Adkins, died as a result of the crash….
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Virginia Beach man admits to eluding trooper in New Kent County
A Virginia Beach man has stipulated to evidence related to an eluding charge stemming from a brief pursuit in New Kent County. Shaheim Divine Allen, 26, of the 3900 block of Inspiration Arch, stipulated evidence of the pursuit during Monday morning proceedings in New Kent Circuit Court. While Allen admitted guilt to the eluding charge, he is challenging the felony and believes it was a misdemeanor. In a summary of evidence provided by New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick, on Jan. 20, a Virginia State Trooper patrolling Interstate 64 westbound traffic near the 205-mile marker detected a vehicle traveling 96…
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Quinton man arrested in connection to road raging shooting
A Quinton man has been apprehended and taken into custody after a road rage incident led to a shooting in the New Kent Crossing Shopping Center. Jacob A. Rivera, 25, has been arrested in connection to the shooting following an investigation by New Kent Sheriff’s Office. In a Sunday afternoon press release from New Kent County Sheriff’s Office, at approximately 3 p.m. a report came in about a shooting incident in the shopping area. A preliminary investigation revealed that one victim, an adult male, sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the lower portion of his body and he self-transported himself…
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Charles City Investigator helps solved 1979 cold case
Authorities in Charles City County have solved a cold case dating back to 1979. In a press release from Charles City Sheriff’s Office, Virginia State Police contacted the sheriff’s office with information they received concerning an unidentified body that washed up on the shore of the James River off Sturgeon Point Road on Aug. 28, 1979. Charles City investigator Zohra Anwari handled the case, receiving information from Genetic Genealogy to help identify possible relatives of the deceased. Anwari and a special agent with the Virginia State Police visited the only full blood living sister, who resided in Mechanicsville. After receiving…
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